Awning device

ABSTRACT

Two pairs of brackets are used to removably support an awning in sun shielding relationship with a window. The four brackets comprising the two pairs are identical. One bracket in each pair is secured to the window frame and the other of each pair of brackets is adjustably secured to the first of each pair of brackets. The awning itself includes a frame comprising two Ushaped rods. The ends of one of the U-shaped rods are received in suitably sized apertures in the brackets that are secured to the window frame. The ends of the second U-shaped rods are suitably secured in apertures in the other one of each pair of brackets. The aforementioned abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application which, of course, is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

llnite States Patent Richmond Raymond [54] AWNING DEVICE [72] lnventor: Richmond Raymond, 45-45 l62nd Street,

Flushing, NY. 11058 [22] Filed: June 15, 1970 [21 Appl. No.: 46,083

[52] U.S. Cl ..l60/77 [51] Int. Cl. ..E04f 10/10 [58] Field of Search ..160/77, 78, 75, 76, 65, 59; 52/74-78 [56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 1,147,544 7/1915 Rea ..l60/59 1,534,664 4/1925 Saunders ....160/8l 2,066,227 12/1936 Reukauf, Jr. et al... ....l60/8l 633,110 9/1899 Armstrong ..160/81 X Primary Examiner-Reinaldo P. Machado Assistant Examiner-Philip C. Kannan Attorney-Leonard H. King [57] ABSTRACT Two pairs of brackets are used to removably support an awning in sun shielding relationship with a window. The four brackets comprising the two pairs are identical. One bracket in each pair is secured to the window frame and the other of each pair of brackets is adjustably secured to the first of each pair of brackets. The awning itself includes a frame comprising two U-shaped rods. The ends of one of the U-shaped rods are received in suitably sized apertures in the brackets that are secured to the window frame. The ends of the second U shaped rods are suitably secured in apertures in the other one of each pair of brackets.

The aforementioned abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application which, of course, is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEU MAR 2 8 I972 ArraA/Er FIG.3

AWNING DEVICE This invention relates generally to awning devices and more particularly to improved bracket means for removably supporting an awning adjacent a window.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There is presently a need for low cost, simple to install, means for removably supporting an awning adjacent a window. It would be highly desirable if structure could be provided that will permit the rapid installation and/or removal of an awning without requiring a skilled mechanic or the use of sophisticated tools. Further, a highly desirable feature in any new system would be the installation of the awning from a position within the building thus obviating the need for ladders, scaffolding and the like.

The present invention provides all of the foregoing features and advantages. A single bracket which may conveniently be die cast and which will subsequently require a minimum of machining is all that is needed to provide low cost means for installing an awning. Four of the brackets are used. Two of the brackets are secured by any suitable means, such as fasteners or adhesive, to the window frame. The other two brackets are removably and adjustably secured to the first two brackets. Each of the brackets has an axial opening in order to receive the ends of the two U-shaped frame members that support the awning material.

Accordingly, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide improved means for removably supporting an awning adjacent a window.

It is another object of this invention to provide low cost means for removably supporting an awning adjacent a window.

It is a particular object of this invention to provide a single bracket that requires a minumum of subsequent machining, the single bracket when used in a group of two pairs providing the entire support for the awning.

A feature of this invention is that no special tools are required to either install or remove the awning.

An advantage of the present invention is that the awning may be installed from a position within the building.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will, in part, be pointed out with particularity, and will, in part, become obvious from the following more detailed description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, which forms an integral part thereof.

In various features of the drawing, like reference characters designate like parts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a bracket comprising the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a plurality of the brackets shown in FIG. I mounted on a window frame, the awning support rods being shown in solid outline with the awning itself being shown in phantom outline;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a single pair of the brackets shown in FIG. 1, the brackets being oriented in the same manner as shown in FIG. 2 with the awning fully opened; and

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 3 but showing an intermediate position of one of the brackets in solid outline, the bracket being shown in still another position in phantom outline.

Referring now to the drawing, and in particular to FIG. 1, the bracket comprising the present invention includes an elongated body portion 12 having a mounting surface 14. The body portion 12 includes two oppositely directed extensions 16 and 18 each of which has a beveled end 20 and 22, respectively. Mounting holes 24 and 26 extend through the ends 16 and 18, respectively, and are optional in use as will be described hereinafter. A partial, axial bore 28 is formed in the body portion and a transverse opening 30 terminates in the bore 28. Finally, a boss 32 is formed on the supper surface of the body member 12 and is provided with a central opening 34 and a serrated or toothed face 36.

Installation of the present invention can best be understood by reference now to FIG. 2. For purposes of this description, even though only one bracket 10 is required, the brackets shown in FIG. 2 will be designated as 10 LV (Left-Vertical), 10 LH (Left-Horizontal), 10 RV (Right-Vertical) 10 RH (Right-Horizontal). The awning is comprised of a first frame 40 having a central section 42 and two spaced parallel ends 44. The awning further includesa second U-shaped frame member 46 having a central section 48 and two spaced parallel ends 50. Awning material generally shown as phantom outlines 52 is secured and attached to the frame members 40 and 46 in any suitable manner. Thus the angular surface as well as the two vertical side surfaces that are substantially triangular in shape are covered by the awning'material 52.

The brackets 10LV and IORV are secured to the window frame F by means of an epoxy base adhesive that is applied to the mounting surface 14 or through the use of fasteners extending through the openings 24 and 26 in the extensions 16 and 18, respectively. The end sections 44 and 50 are inserted in the axial partial bores 28 of each of the four brackets 10 and are secured therein either by a force fit or by means of a fastener positioned in the openings 30. The pairs of brackets 10LV, 10LH and IORV, 10RH are secured as shown in FIG. 2 and 3 by means of a fastener 54. A threaded screw or a wing nut, for example, may be used for this purpose or, alternatively, one of the openings 34 may be tapped and the opening in the other bores may be a clearance hole for a threaded fastener such as a screw. It will be appreciated that when the awning is installed, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the beveled ends 20 on adjacent brackets 10 meet in a mitered joint. This construction, together with the rigid attachment of these vertical brackets to the window frame, assures that the awning cannot inadvertently be pulled out.

Normally the awning materials 52 is Army Duck" and is weather and mildew resistant and is sun-fast. Because the awning material is flexible either one of the positions shown in FIG. 4, or, in fact, any intermediate position, may be assumed by the awning. All that is necessary is to loosen the fastener 54. In this construction it should be noted that the serrated surface 36 assures retention of the desired position, once the fastener is retightened. The serrations may actually be in the form of interlocking teeth. This will, of course, limit the number of positions of the awning to the number of teeth, but this is not a real drawback, since a sufficient number of positions can be provided.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that a relatively simple mounting bracket has been provided for the installation of awnings. The bracket can be die cast and needs no further machining other than perhaps a tapped hole as desired. Conventional fasteners may be used or an epoxy based adhesive may be used to secure two of the brackets to the window frame. The remaining two brackets are adjustably secured to the first two mentioned brackets by means of conventional fasteners. Thus, no special tools or skills are required to install the awning brackets. Further, the cost is minimized by making a single bracket universal.

It is to be appreciated that the term awning cloth is used broadly in the specification and claims and the covering may, if desired, be formed of a sheet of metal or plastic, woven or nonwoven, or even slats and overlapping platelets of rigid material.

There has been disclosed heretofore the best embodiment of the invention presently contemplated. However, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 15:

1. An improved awning and mounting means therefor comprising the combination of:

a. first and second U-shaped frame members adapted to be positioned proximate a window in planes that are substantially perpendicular to each other;

a length of awning cloth covering said frame members;

c. two pairs of bracket means, one of each of said pairs 5 being secured to the window frame and having a bore receiving the ends of said first U-shaped frame member, the other of each of said pairs of brackets having a bore receiving the ends of said second U-shaped frame member, all said bracket means being substantially identical and further comprising an elongated body portion, one surface of said body portion defining a mounting surface, said bore extending coaxially and at least partially through said body portion, said body portion having a boss formed on the surface thereof opposite to said mounting surface, each boss having an opening therein whereby said bosses of each pair of said bracket means are in confronting relationship in the assembled condition with the openings thereof in alignment; and

fastener means extending through said aligned openings adjustably coupling said bracket means in said pairs.

2. The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein said frame ends are received in the bores of said bracket means by a force fit.

3. The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein fastener means are included for securing said frame ends in the bores of said bracket means.

4. The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein said bracket means further include extensions and openings therethrough, said one each of said pair of bracket means being secured to the window frame by fastener means extending through the apertures.

5. The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein the confronting surface of said bosses are serrated.

6. The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein interlocking teeth are formed on the confronting surfaces of the said bosses.

7. The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein one of the aligned openings in said pair of confronting bosses is tapped and said fastener means is a screw.

8. The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one end of said body portion is beveled and defines stop means in combination with said beveled end portion of the other of said pair of bracket means whereby the position of one of the pairs of bracket means is predetermined with respect to the other of said pair of bracket means. 

1. An improved awning and mounting means therefor comprising the combination of: a. first and second U-shaped frame members adapted to be positioned proximate a window in planes that are substantially perpendicular to each other; b. a length of awning cloth covering said frame members; c. two pairs of bracket means, one of each of said pairs being secured to the window frame and having a bore receiving the ends of said first U-shaped frame member, the other of each of said pairs of brackets having a bore receiving the ends of said second U-shaped frame member, all said bracket means being substantially identical and further comprising an elongated body portion, one surface of said body portion defining a mounting surface, said bore extending coaxially and at least partially through said body portion, said body portion having a boss formed on the surface thereof opposite to said mounting surface, each boss having an opening therein whereby said bosses of each pair of said bracket means are in confronting relationship in the assembled condition with the openings thereof in alignment; and d. fastener means extending through said aligned openings adjustably coupling said bracket means in said pairs.
 2. The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein said frame ends are received in the bores of said bracket means by a force fit.
 3. The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein fastener means are included for securing said frame ends in the bores of said bracket means.
 4. The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein said bracket means further include extensions and openings therethrough, said one each of said pair of bracket means being secured to the window frame by fastener means extending through the apertures.
 5. The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein the confronting surface of said bosses are serrated.
 6. The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein interlocking teeth are formed on the confronting surfaces of the said bosses.
 7. The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein one of the aligned openings in said pair of confronting bosses is tapped and said fastener means is a screw.
 8. The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one end of said body portion is beveled and defines stop means in combination with said beveled end portion of the other of said pair of bracket means whereby the position of one of the pairs of bracket means is predetermined with respect to the other of said pair of bracket means. 